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One Day Past Start Date, No Funds For Fuel

BOSTON — November 1 marks the start of the annual federal winter fuel assistance program for low-income residents — usually. For the first time in 30 years, the funding didn’t go through, said Susan Cooperstein, vice president for external affairs at Action for Boston Community Development (ABCD). That makes it impossible for her organization to issue fuel supports to its low-income clients.

She said the Obama administration has been dragging its feet on issuing the funding even though it was authorized by Congress and signed into law as part of Washington’s continuing resolution.

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services under Secretary Kathleen Sebelius has not yet guaranteed the disbursements, Cooperstein said.